as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
her confrontational, in-your-face manner doesn't help get legislation passed
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Recent Examples of confrontational
Comprised primarily of covers of Memphis non-hits, Behind the Magnolia Curtain is a bizarre record, its confrontational lack of chops intensifying its cockeyed charisma and ribaldry.
—
Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026
Preston’s remark, consistent with his confrontational style on the trail, points to the foundations of the race.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
As Bisciotti noted last month, Jackson is not a confrontational personality.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The incident was the last straw for some members who have grown tired of Jones’ confrontational behavior with council members who have sided against her on high-profile votes, a source said.
—Megan Rodriguez, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Feb. 2026
When the Mexican-American War broke out in 1846, Polk established himself as a confrontational military leader by side-stepping the Department of War to create war strategy himself.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
July was not a confrontational person, seeing his job as mainly keeping people out of the building who weren't supposed to be there.
—Jessie Christopher Smith, Oklahoman, 2 Feb. 2026
Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino - who led confrontational sweeps in Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities - was demoted and will soon retire, Reuters reported.
—Kristina Cooke, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
The arrest followed days of allegedly confrontational social media posts, including posts that shared Scott’s personal contact information.
—Sean Mandell, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026
Preston’s remark, consistent with his confrontational style on the trail, points to the foundations of the race.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
As Bisciotti noted last month, Jackson is not a confrontational personality.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The incident was the last straw for some members who have grown tired of Jones’ confrontational behavior with council members who have sided against her on high-profile votes, a source said.
—Megan Rodriguez, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Feb. 2026
When the Mexican-American War broke out in 1846, Polk established himself as a confrontational military leader by side-stepping the Department of War to create war strategy himself.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
July was not a confrontational person, seeing his job as mainly keeping people out of the building who weren't supposed to be there.
—Jessie Christopher Smith, Oklahoman, 2 Feb. 2026
Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino - who led confrontational sweeps in Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities - was demoted and will soon retire, Reuters reported.
—Kristina Cooke, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
The arrest followed days of allegedly confrontational social media posts, including posts that shared Scott’s personal contact information.
—Sean Mandell, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confrontational
Adjective
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In the meantime, an unstable government could become more rather than less aggressive, not least to keep younger hard-liners from rebelling.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
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Wiener helped push two new California laws last year — the No Secret Police Act and the No Vigilantes Act — in the wake of intense and aggressive immigration enforcement by masked ICE and other federal agents in California and around the country.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Although Pakistan's capital has seen relatively few attacks compared with other regions, the country has experienced a recent rise in militant violence.—
MUNIR AHMED,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Although Pakistan’s capital has seen relatively few attacks compared with other regions, the country has experienced a recent rise in militant violence.—
Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The hostile bid came as Nexstar Media Group agreed to acquire Tegna, in a $6 billion transaction that would run afoul of the FCC’s 39% ownership cap; Nexstar has filed for a waiver to the ownership cap.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2026
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The 31-year-old Puerto Rican singer’s celebration of Hispanic culture could hardly have arrived at a more hostile moment for Latinos.—
Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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His margin of victory was 481 votes, and he was declared the winner several weeks after the election following a contentious recount.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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The Clippers also traded Chris Paul, who hadn’t been with the team since November after his return turned contentious amid the early struggles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Attorney General Pam Bondi sparred with Democrats about her year-long tenure at the Department of Justice, in a combative, hours-long hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
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Here are seven key takeaways from the combative hearing.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Chief Judge James Boasberg ruled in two more surge cases involving Paul Nguyen and Nathalie Rose Jones, each accused of assaultive or threatening conduct during summer protests.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Nov. 2025
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Corigliano’s symphony is assaultive in style and confrontational in intent.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confrontational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confrontational. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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